Walking Wild & Free

Sheep Canyon 1

Sheep Canyon

Photo credit Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0. View at https://flic.kr/p/dNinGD

Sheep Canyon 2

Photo credit Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0. View at https://flic.kr/p/dNoWs1

Sheep Canyon 3

Photo credit Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0. View at https://flic.kr/p/dNiqfB

Sheep Canyon 4

Photo credit Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0. View at https://flic.kr/p/dNoZpS

A long canyon hike/scramble takes explorers from Badwater Flats into Gold Valley.

Total Distance: 9.6 shuttle or 13.8 miles to do Sheep Canyon only	Elevation Gain: 5,181ft. up, 1,244ft. down (-237ft. to 4,644ft.) (Sheep Canyon only: 5,253ft. (-222ft. to 4,716ft.))
Difficulty: Very Extremely Strenuous	10+ Mile Difficulty: Extremely Strenuous to Very Extremely Strenuous
View Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars3.0	Author’s Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0 stars2.0
Visitor Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0]	Visitor Difficulty Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0]
Pets: No	Horses: Technically yes, though no horse could get up this canyon
Best Seasons: November-April	Special Permits: None
Water Availability: No potable water	Overnight Options: Dispersed camping allowed at least 1 mile from the Badwater Road
Trailhead Amenities: None	Crowd Factor: Solitude
Trailhead Access: 0.6
Uses:	Trail Surface:
Features:	Hazards:

Mile-by-Mile: Sheep Canyon Route

0.0 Sheep Canyon Route “Trailhead” along the Badwater Road (-237ft.). No signs mark the beginning of the hike. Head east and just slightly south up the alluvial fan toward the obvious mouth of Sheep Canyon. (36.087777°, -116.739285°)

1.0 Mouth of Sheep Canyon (199ft.). Hike upcanyon; the walls are colorful and quite tall as you walk up the gradually narrowing canyon. You will encounter rocks and possibly some small dryfalls – nothing should be much more than a Class 2 scramble at this point. (36.084023°, -116.723020°)

2.3 Canyon split (1,137ft.). Bear right and continue upcanyon. The route twists and turns its way deep into the Black Mountains. You will pass several sidecanyons, but it should be fairly obvious which is the main wash (the only sketchy junction will be around mile 3.8 – bear left). (36.083052°, -116.702431°)

4.4 Canyon split (2,543ft.). This is a major junction, as you’ll want to turn right out of the main Sheep Canyon. As you ascend over the next mile or so, you’ll need to climb at least three 30+ft. dryfalls. They are all Class 3 and can be climbed, though most also have use trails on the left to bypass the worst of the scrambling. If you’re carrying a heavy pack, it may be helpful to carry a length of rope to haul up your pack. (36.080286°, -116.675116°)

5.2 Canyon split (3,225ft.). Stay left here. The route will narrow, then widen again about mile 6.4 – at this point, you’ll see Sheep Saddle ahead of you to the east. (36.074832°, -116.660407°)

6.6 Canyon veers right (4,146ft.). Travel south in the winding canyon (36.0745339°, -116.6457709°)

6.7 Veer right (4,276ft.). Turn south to begin up toward Sheep Pass. Climb big slabs of granite near its base, then begin a sketchy climb up scree toward the saddle – use caution in this area. (36.073436°, -116.644367°)

6.9 Sheep Pass (4,644ft.). Descend southeast into the valley. (36.071029°, -116.644077°)

7.7 Old mining road (4,145ft.). Turn right here to follow the road down into Gold Valley. After about a tenth of a mile, the road will join another old mining road (approx. 36.06216626°, -116.6322383°); turn right again to continue south. (36.064243°, -116.633284°)

9.6 Gold Valley Road (3,698ft.). Turning right here would take you to the spring at the end of the road, 3.4 miles away. (36.039254°, -116.632966°)

History & More

Sheep Canyon is named for the bighorn sheep that frequent the area.

You can technically do this as a shuttle with a car on the Badwater Road and another in Gold Valley – just note that the road into Gold Valley is extremely rough and rugged, requiring some serious 4×4 skills and extra time to navigate.

Looking at maps, it may be tempting to do this route as a loop by coming down Willow Canyon. This should only be attempted with rock climbing gear and good rock climbing skills. There are some fun and exciting dryfalls to descend in Willow Canyon!

Note that there are several old mining roads in Gold Valley – be careful to take the right one back on your return trip!

Backpackers can camp anywhere along this route, at least 1 mile from the Badwater Road. However, Gold Valley and Sheep Pass are notoriously windy.

Download Trail Map

Coming soon!

Driving Directions

Drive the Badwater Road about 29.7 miles south of Badwater Junction (1.5 miles north of the Sidewinder Canyon Trailhead) or 16 miles north of where the Badwater Road turns into the Jubilee Pass Road and the Harry Wade Road connects from the south. Park along the side of the road – make sure you don’t obstruct traffic.